Automatic screen



S. HEATH.

AUTOMATIC SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1919.

1,33 ,223, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

SAMUEL HEATH, 0F ROXBOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC SCREEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2'7, 1920.

Application filed January 13, 1919. Serial No. 270,815.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL HEATH, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Roxborough, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Screens, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto a new anduseful improvement in an automatic screen for buildings, automobiles, railway cars and the like, and has for its object to provide exceedingly, simple and elfective devices of this description which will provide for proper ventilation and which will be automatically set by the movement of the window sash.

A further object of my invention is to provide a special designed actuating mechanism for the rolls upon which the screen is wound.

lVith these ends in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail referring by numeral to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application in which- Figure 1. represents my improved automatic ventilating screens applied to a window.

Fig. 2.. is a section at the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3. is a face view of my improved actuating mechanism.

Fig. 4, is a section at the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5, is a face view of the back plate the front plate and its mechanism being removed to clearly show the stationary ratchet.

Fig. 6, is an end view of the pawl disk, the position of the stationary ratchet being shown in dotted lines. I

Fig. 7, is an end view of the roll showing the square hole in the ferrule thereof.

In carrying out mv invention as embodied in Figs. 1 to 7' inclusive. 1 representsthe screen preferably made of perforated sheet metal adapted to be wound upon the roll 2 and having a strengthening strip 3 at the upper edge thereof through which are foi'ined slots 4, for the passage of the turn bolts 5, which are threaded into the bottom. rail 6 of the lower window sash 7 these turn bolts may be in the form of ordinary screw eyes and when turned horizontally the slots may be passed thereover, andthen when these bolts are turned vertically they will lock the strengthening strip to the sash so that thereafterthe screen will follow the movements of said sash.

The roll 2 has a ferrule 8 secured thereon in any suitable manner, here shown as by nails 9, and this ferrule has a rectangularhole 10 formed in the center thereof for passage over the rectangular shank 11 of the actuating mechanism, the end of the roll being recessed as at 12 to permit the insertion of this shank. a

The actuating mechanism consists of a casing having a plate 13 with the flange 14, and an extension 15, said flange and extension having holes 16 therein for securing the plate to the window frame and upon this plate is secured a stationary ratchet 17.

A hub 18 has a reduced spindle 19 for insertion in the hole 20 wherein it revolves, which serves as a bearing therefor and this hub has a stud 21 for engagement with the inner end of the spring 22 which latter is coiled around said hub, its outer end being attached to the post 23; so that when the hub is revolved it will wind the spring, and when the winding force has been released the spring in turn will revolve the hub in the opposite direction, as will be readily understood. On the'end of the hub opposite the rectangular shank is secured a ratchet disk 24 having a flange25 andto this disk are pivoted the two pawls 26 adapted to engage with the stationary ratchet 17. From this it will be seen that when the rollis unwound by the raising of the window sash, the hub 18 will be revolved winding the spring, the pawls sliding over the teeth of the stationary ratchet, but when the rotation of the roll is stopped at least one of these pawls will engage with a tooth of the ratchet and hold the spring so as to prevent the tendency to draw the window sash down by the pull of the spring upon the screen.

- A slight upward movement of the sash and a quick initial lowering of the same will cause the pawls to disengage from the teeth of the stationary ratchet permitting the spring to wind up the screen in unison with the downward movement of the sash as will be readily understood.

This actuating mechanism is especially mechanism a wide range means is had for securing the device to windows of different outlines andin different positions upon a given window, but of course one or the other of these elements may be omitted.

When my invention is to be used in connection with a house window, a screen 38 similar in all respects to the screen 1- including the mechanism for operating the same, and the means for attaching it to the top of the window is attached to the upper rail of the upper sash so as to follow the movement of the latter, thereby permitting the opening of a space at the top of the window as 'well as the bottom thereof, which will cause a free circulation of air in the room, admitting fresh air at the bottom and permitting foul air to escape at the top. I have found it desirable to use a guide roll 39 intended to bear upon the inner surface of the lower screen 1 so as to guide the, latter into proper alinement. l

When my invention is adapted to be used in automobiles and when such a machine is properly equipped with the same the curtains may be raised or lowered to protect the occupants from rain or storm and if such curtains be perforated at the same time permitting proper ventilation.

Where .it is found desirable a soft wire Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and useful is 1. In combination with a window'and the movable sash thereof, a screen detachably connected to one edge of said sash, a roll upon which said screen is wound, a ferrule carried by said roll and having a rectangular opening therein, and a spring actuating mechanism having a rectangular shank adapted to project into the rectangular hole.

2. In combination with a screen roll of the character described, an actuating mechanism consisting of a plate having holes therein for attachment to a window casing, a stationary ratchet secured upon said plate, a hub having a spindle adapted to revolve in said plate, a flange disk secured to the hub, a pawl pivoted to the disk, said pawl adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet, a spring coiled about the hub, its inner end being attached'to said hub and its outer end to thecasing, and a shank rectangular in cross section carried by the hub.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

SAMUEL HEATH. 

